US Prepares Deep Strike on Iran’s Heavily Fortified Jabal al-Fuqas Nuclear Site Amid Rising Tensions
As tensions between Washington and Tehran escalate, the United States is preparing for a potential deep strike on Iran’s underground nuclear facility known as Jabal al-Fuqas. This site, located under approximately 600 meters of granite in the Zagros Mountains near Natanz, is considered Iran’s most fortified and secretive nuclear installation. Unlike the more familiar Fordow facility, Jabal al-Fuqas is designed to withstand extensive airstrikes, possibly even those involving the US military’s 15-ton Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) bunker-buster bombs.
President Donald Trump has publicly threatened to destroy the facility, signaling a clear and concrete military target rather than a diplomatic warning. He stated in a recent interview that the operation could take place within two to three weeks, emphasizing the readiness and confidence of the US military despite the site’s unprecedented fortifications. This announcement follows satellite imagery revealing Iran’s continued development and fortification of the site, violating a ceasefire memorandum previously agreed upon with the US.
The situation has further deteriorated with Iranian Revolutionary Guards attacking ships in the Strait of Hormuz, prompting Trump to declare the ceasefire over. Intelligence shared by Israel with the US also indicates an active Iranian plot to assassinate Trump in retaliation for the killings of Qassem Soleimani and Ali Khamenei. In response, Trump has ordered the military to be prepared to "completely destroy Iran" if attacked.
In preparation for possible fallout from strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites, the US is deploying the "Rharhchan" nuclear reconnaissance aircraft, currently in the UK, to the Persian Gulf region to monitor any radioactive leaks. Concurrently, the US Central Command has conducted multiple nighttime airstrikes targeting Iranian military assets, including missile sites and naval defenses, aiming to degrade Iran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. Over 50,000 US troops are currently deployed across the Middle East.
Meanwhile, Israel is on high alert, with the IDF raising readiness levels across all branches and coordinating with US forces to respond to any Iranian attempts to shift hostilities toward American bases in Israel. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned that Israel would respond forcefully to any Iranian attack. Security officials have indicated that Israel’s response to any ceasefire violations by Iran would be more than measured.
This confluence of military preparations and escalating threats underscores the fragile and volatile state of US-Iran relations, with the Jabal al-Fuqas nuclear site at the center of the unfolding crisis.
